Best Solo Tent: Keep Warm and Stay Lightweight

Whether you like to camp in groups or hike the old trail by yourself, you have to agree that sometimes it’s nice to sleep with a little privacy. Or, perhaps you are looking for a lightweight option to do some long-term alpine trekking. What ever the case is, your ultimate solution is the best solo tent you can find on the market.

Having a small solo tent can reduce your weight and still be comfortable. But, it should still keep you warm, and keep the rain off yourself and your belongings. We know that this might sound impossible, but there are such tents, and even though the best ones are hard to find in the sea of hundreds of models, we will help you out in your search.

In this article, we will first explain which are the features you should keep an eye on if you want to make sure that the model you buy is absolutely perfect for your needs, and we also included the in-depth reviews of the best models for you to choose from. But first, take a look at the table to get a better insight into the reviewed models and what they offer.

Things to Consider Before Buying

There are quite a few factors that go into your shelter when you are prepping for a big trip, but what is most important as with all your gear, is to make sure you are maximizing your comfort. This will be achieved with ease if you put the following factors into consideration.

Interior Space

Interior space can be a make or break deal with a tent, even if you are opting for a solo tent doesn’t mean you are giving up all comforts. While they may not have the roomiest interior, you can still find that solo tents can be comfortable after a long day on the trail.

As you look at the dimensions listed on the tent, remember that this is only for you to be sleeping in, so unlike a two-person, you don’t have to worry if your partner needs extra space to sprawl on. Also keep in mind that you will be carrying the tent by yourself on the trip so if the weight seems like it will be too hard on your trip, try to find a smaller solo tent.

Season Rating

When you are deciding to go out on your first solo backpacking trip you need to look at how cold it gets during the season you are traveling in. Even if your sleeping back is a 3 season rating, you need your shelter to have the same ratings.

On the market, you will find that a 3 season tent is very popular, and they will be perfect for spring, summer and fall trips. You can find tents rated for winter, so do not take these 3 season tents out into a winter snow backpacking hike.

The reason these season rating matters is that you want to keep the bad weather out of your shelter, but also allow for optimal air circulation in your tent. Especially during summer when the bad weather might not be the cold, but rather the heat

Design Elements

The market is particularly inundated with heaps of different options on designs for your tent, from double wall tents and even freestanding tents. A double wall is pretty self-explanatory and helps reduce condensation from sneaking in during the night.

A freestanding tent provides you the ability to select a sleep spot without worrying that your ground is not suitable to be anchored down to. You should also look at our reviews because we discuss if there are any complaints about design flaws in the tent itself, one flaw could make an otherwise awesome tent, uninhabitable.

Some of these tents may feature multiple doors, air vents or interior pockets, and those few designs can make your backpacking trip ten times more enjoyable. Also, consider how the tent was designed to be set up, a freestanding tent has a fixed pole system so the set up is very quick.

Durability

The majority of one person tents are made with thinner materials. Remember, you will be carrying the tent alone. So, a thin material is a fair trade-off from the thick ones when putting weight into consideration. It might be better to buy a few season ultra light tents rather than have a heavy duty tent that will be cumbersome to you forever.

However, thinner materials can easily be pierced or torn under minimal strain. As a result, these tents have a lower life span as opposed to heavy ones. This does not rule out the possibility of getting heavy material solo tents, but you must be willing to bear the weight.

Wall constructions

There are two main options available in the market in this respect, the single wall, and double wall tents. The choice of which one to choose depends on how much weight you are willing to add to your pack or the comfort you desire.

A single wall tent is lighter since it does not have the inner mesh, but it compromises some degree of comfort. How does it feel rubbing against the rainfly part of your tent at night when it is freezing? It is something that will wake you up instantly. Consider your choices wisely, but don’t overburden yourself.

Best Products on Today’s Market

While looking for a tent of your own you might have noticed that the market is overloaded with different brands, styles, and unique features to each tent, and it can feel a bit overwhelming to select one that is right for you. In this article, we will show you what we think are the best solo tents on the market, and help break down how to pick so you can stay warm and protected in the backcountry.

Big Agnes Fly Creek 1 Platinum Tent

Price: Approx. $500

Dimensions: 7.2 x 3.3 x 2.3 ft

Weight: 3.78 lbs

Specific features: Made of nylon, ultralight silicone treated fly, rip protected, single door, vestibule with one pocket, tent body is also made of mesh to give it better ventilation, all seams are waterproof

Best use: Solo backpacking

Description: This Big Agnes Fly Creek 1 Platinum Tent has many features that make it a desirable item to bring along on a backpacking trip. It is extremely lightweight, and its floor area is 22 square feet with the head height of 38 inches meaning that it is roomy enough for an average packer.

Customer reviews are very favorable, the waterproof seams and breathable mesh outside make for a tent that withstands well in the rain and heavy wind. It is a three season tent that is both free standing and ultra light, making it an excellent option for backpacking through many different types of terrain.

While this tent runs on the expensive side, its new technology in the material and the poles make it light, easily packable, and easy to set up. It has many features designed for comfort and can withstand extreme rain elements.

The tent body and floor is made from nylon with a polyurethane coating to help keep water away from you. Its ventilation is excellent, and the material used is highly breathable and reduces the build-up of air in the tent.

PROS:

Reflective guyline and webbings on the corners

Featherlite NFL aluminum pole system

Lightweight hubs

Interior mesh pockets

Fast set up

Silicone treated nylon

CONS:

Relatively expensive

Related: Full benefits of an outstanding tent are only realized if you have a nice sleeping bag. The Teton Celsius Sleeping Bag is designed for maximum comfort. It has a double layer thermal offset construction that ensures there are no cold spots. You will get value in this sleeping bag since it also has a hood, a pocket, a draft tube and its purchase is protected by a lifetime warranty. It has a sturdy two-way zipper with metal pulls.

Kelty Salida 1 Tent

Price: Approx. $100

Dimensions: 7.2 x 3.2 x 2.4 ft

Weight: 3.88 lbs

Specific features: Low packing weight, made of polyester and no-see-um mesh, great ventilation, freestanding dome style tent, features a fast two pole set up with compact design, faster pack up, gear loops lofted on the ceiling for a flashlight, zippers made out of a noiseless tape covered material

Best use: Camping, mountaineering

Description: This Kelty Salida 1 Tent is rated as a three season weatherproof tent that helps with both chilly weather and windy or rainy weather. The top half of the tent has larger mesh panels which not only make it breathable and keeps out the condensation, but also offer great stargazing ability.

The tent is also light for how much space it provides its sleeper and is on the lower end of the price compared to some of the other tents on the market. The stakes are also designed to be super lightweight, meaning that you can enjoy the tent and all of its lightweight features in the great outdoors.

Furthermore, it is quite comfortable, even for people over 6 feet tall. The only thing this tent does not have is pockets on the inside, however, it attempts to rectify this problem by having gear loops on the ceiling.

PROS:

Compact folding poles

Easy to set up and bring down

High-quality nylon and

Fully seam taped construction

Internal storage pockets

CONS:

Does not come with gear loft or a footprint

Related: The one thing that you cannot afford to miss is the gear loft. Getting the right one will ensure that you can hang your lighting system easily, store your books and phone in a nice place. The Kelty Gear Loft fits most of the tents in the market that are designed for one or two people. It is built from durable material and is lightweight.

Big Agnes Slater UL Tent

Price: $280 – $390

Dimensions: 8 x 3.9 x 3 ft

Weight: 3.84 lbs

Specific features: Two door closing options, one mesh and the other a full protection polyester layer, storm flaps on its vestibule zipper, 3-season, protective tent body, and reflective guylines and webbing, excellent PU coating

Best use: Backpacking, mountaineering

Description: This Big Agnes Slater UL Tent offers extra floor space that makes it lightweight and comfortable. Instead of having mesh walls the tent has a breathable nylon rip-stop so that you can have extra privacy but also stays warm in your tent.

This Big Agnes tent is heavier than the first one that we reviewed, but it is a bit roomier, free standing, and has a single pole system for a fast standard tent.

Since there is such limited mesh on this tent, it makes it better for cold weather camping, but the tradeoff is that it does collect a bit more condensation. However, with a nice sleeping bag, this should not be a threat in any way.

The mesh door can be unzipped to allow a more breathable and dryer tent. All in all, the tent comes with an excellent price for all of its included features.

PROS:

6 ft vestibule

High-quality tent body made from nylon

Two-layer, closing options

Waterproof polyurethane coating

Three interior pockets

CONS:

Not freestanding

Short rain fly

Related: Among the efficient and affordable lighting systems when on an outdoor mission are the headlamps. The Black Diamond Spot Headlamp is an ideal choice for campers. It has a power tap technology that enables you to switch between brightness levels easily. It uses three triple-A batteries and it has a red night vision mode.

Kelty Gunnison 1.3 Tent

Specific features: Extremely easy to set up, has two entry doors and has door storage pockets, includes a footprint, has gear loft loops on the awning, and has compact folding poles

Best use: Backpacking

Description: While this Kelty Gunnison 1.3 Tent is not the lightest of the options you can pick, it is still an excellent price and tent for comfortable backpacking trips. There is plenty of leg room in the tent, and has a quick and easy setup, and is a freestanding tent so it can be placed on any surface.

While there is plenty of length in this tent, some report that they struggle to kneel in the tent, making it difficult to change inside of the tent.

One other thing that is mentioned about this tent is the necessity of the Footprint that comes with the tent, and that is because the floor of the tent is rather thin. There was also some condensation reported in the tent, but only after a heavy rain.

The awning at the entrance can only be set up with your trekking poles or you get creative on that. It is an add-on to the tent worth taking advantage of. It has a vestibule on one side only, but this should be enough for one person. The great aspect of the tent is the ease with which you pack it or set it up.

PROS:

The double zipper door can be used to set up an awning

Internal storage pockets

Comes with gear loft and the floor strip

Aluminum folding poles

Durable and sturdy when set

CONS:

No interior mesh to prevent condensation

Related: If you are a regular camper or hiker, then it is definite that you own a pair of trekking poles. The Montem Ultra Strong Trekking Poles are designed for almost any person. Their length can be adjusted to fit any height. They have straps and foam handles for an enhanced grip. They are made of airplane grade aluminum metal.

Big Agnes Seedhouse SL1 Tent

Description: This ultralight Big Agnes Seedhouse SL1 Tent is both fast to set up and is easy to pack down to an incredibly small size. It has inside pockets making it easy to store your belongings and is highly rated for its weight and the poles being shock-corded together makes for simple set up.

It is also well rated for tropical areas for its ventilation abilities due to the amount of mesh. The floor and the fly, are both lightweight and are treated with nylon rip-stop and a waterproof coating. The tent is largely made of mesh to provide ventilation and there are two interior pockets.

There are two things about this tent to be aware of, it is kind of difficult to get in and out of, due to its size. If it is raining, getting out of the tent means that you may end up getting soaked. As an additional difficulty, zippers are not the best quality, meaning that they may break while you are in the outdoors.

PROS:

Freestanding

Lightweight

Large vestibule

Press fit connectors and lightweight hubs

Silicone treated fly and floor

Waterproof polyurethane coating

CONS:

Small fittings

Zipper issues are rampant, use it with care

Related: There is no point of getting extra things to keep under your head when you can get a backpacking pillow that fits the size of your palm when folded. The Chillax Ultralight Camping Pillow is designed to be your everyday thing. When on a camping trip, it is the best pillow and when in the house, you can use it as a support for your neck, back, and head.

Description: Unlike our other tents, this Eureka Spitfire 1 Tent is not a freestanding tent, meaning that if you can’t stake it into the ground, you need to find nearby trees to hold it up. On top of that, the tent itself has an interesting shape and design due to the bathtub style floor.

This tent features one main fly and floor seams that are taped to prevent feeling the extreme weather, and it has a rather large side entry meaning that the entry is much easier. It is ultra light, with decent vestibule for extra storage and very large mesh sections for ventilation and stargazing.

While this tent is pretty large for its weight, it is still difficult to fit a larger person inside this tent. Its size also means that you need to consider your backpack size if you plan on storing it in the tent itself.

All this being said, for its weight and size, it is extremely well priced, and if money is your biggest concern this might be the right tent for you. If the weather is warm you can enjoy the large mesh panels on the top for stargazing.

PROS:

Factory taped floor seams

Large entry door

Lightweight

High-grade aluminum poles

Nice vestibule for extra storage

Fast and sturdy set up

CONS:

Not freestanding

Related: The level of joy associated with outdoor activities can be influenced by how far you can see. Getting a pair of Bushnell Falcon Binoculars is a nice way to enhance your sight. It is rugged and can magnify up to 7x. It has a field of view of 420 feet at 1000 yards. It is the best gadget for bird viewing, hunting, and general outdoor activities.

Description: Light and small, this Eureka Solitaire Tent is the ideal 2 hoop bivy style tent, and it also comes as one of our most reasonable prices in this list. It is highly durable and incredibly fast in its set up. It is a three season tent, and while it might be snug to some, we actually like the fact that it comes with the door on the side and on the top of the tent.

This tent features a design meant for speed setups, pole pockets on one end and a ring and pin on the other, it also has two storage pockets on the inside and a flashlight loop. It also features a fiberglass frame that is shock corded making it both durable and fast to take down. Its large roof mesh well ventilates it, and the roof also acts as the door of this tiny tent.

Two cons to this tent are that there is no way to fit both yourself and your gear in this tent, so bring a rain cover for your pack if you purchase this solo tent. The second is that many find that there are broken poles, or that the poles split during the trip.

That being said, Eureka is definitely worth the price and the customer service, if needed, will replace the poles immediately, and add an extension to the ring and the pin to reduce stress on the poles.

PROS:

Lightweight

Quick to set up

Easy entry and exit

The solitaires design can withstand strong wind

Two pockets on the inside

CONS:

Very limited in space, cannot accommodate your stuff

Related: If you are looking for an economical lighting system, then, there is an option for you to consider that has been approved and tested by the market. The ZLF LED Tent Lamp is designed to use triple-A batteries. It has three light intensity settings, high, low and flashing. The lamp is water resistant. It has an easy to lock system, the hooks are also durable and hang well from the tent.

Description: If you are looking for an ultra-lightweight solo tent, then the Six Moon Lunar Solo Tent might be perfect for you. It is a single wall tent, which helps save weight, but increases the risk of condensation on the inside. Also, the lofted canopy is a great feature that allows you to comfortably change your clothes inside this tent, which is rare amongst solo tents.

Furthermore, with its floating floor, you can place this tent almost anywhere, there is less of a chance for sharp objects puncture your tent and the center pole support allows for you to remain comfortable even in high winds.

Lunar also advertises that this tent can be set up in 2 minutes or less, in almost any conditions you may come across on the trail. It has a hexagonal shape that makes it easy to withstand the wind no matter its strength. The steeply sloped sides also help to keep off the snow from accumulating on the sides of the tent.

Since the tent is made of nylon with enhanced silicone, it does not mildew or mold, which is great to know and have as a feature.

PROS:

Single piece bathtub floor

Easy tension adjustments

Floating floor and canopy

One hiking pole support

Lightweight

Durable and easy to set up

CONS:

Made from thin nylon

Related: Setting up a new tent is easy, but sometimes you might require additional support in case you are camping in a windy place or the tent is not well anchored on the ground. The SE Galvanized Tent Pegs are perfect for a variety of outdoor camping activities.

Wrap Up

We have reached the end of our article. Now that you have all the options at your disposal, you can select your preferred solo tent now or when the time comes. Rest assured that you will be both comfortable while you sleep and when you pick up your full pack the next morning.

We suggest that when looking for a tent you take into consideration interior space, its season ratings, and finally the actual design elements of the tent to ensure you are buying the best on the market. Remember, what you choose is not based on what is the most expensive or the best brand name, but what will maximize your sleep after a long day of alpine trekking.

If you are looking for what you believe to be the best solo tent and we have missed it in our review, let us know in a comment below! Also, if you think that your friends could benefit from reading this article, feel free to share it on social media. Thanks for reading.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dennis Owens

Dennis Owens is a graduate of National Camping School and REI Outdoor School. He knows everything about what gear to take with you, how to plan your trip to stay safe and what to do if you get lost in the mountains. We are lucky to have Dennis with us as he is a ‘walking encyclopedia’ when it comes to the wilderness.

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